Greetings all. Today I was excited to welcome back Elaine Luria, another of our candidates of virtue and character in a very strong position to flip a red House district blue this cycle. Former Congresswoman Luria is running to retake the seat in VA-2 which she held for two terms.
Here’s the 2024 vote in the district:
The latest poll taken in VA-2 had Luria leading her opponent Jen Kiggins 46%-43% (Christopher Newport University), and the early vote data we are seeing (via TargetEarly) is promising. Turnout so far is very robust, and Luria is running 10 points ahead of where we were on this day in 2022 and 15 points ahead of where we were in 2024:
From our conversation this afternoon:
Hampton Roads has the largest Navy base in the world, major installations from every service. 40% of our economy is directly or indirectly tied to the Navy and DOD, and we build all of the aircraft carriers and half the submarines here in Hampton Roads. So those are issues that are vitally important, not only to our national security, but to the livelihood of people here across this region. Not only those who serve in uniform, but those who work in the civilian workforce to both build and repair our ships, our aircraft. And these issues affect this region directly.
We have a representative in this district –– she's a veteran herself, but she's voted to cut veterans benefits by 22%. We have the highest concentration of veterans in the country, yet we have the most undermanned VA hospital. And so those are some of the issues, both on the national security side as well as for our veterans and our military families that are so important. So I look forward to going back to Congress, serving again in those key roles, working on those important issues.
For all those folks out there supporting competitive races like this one, the final stretch is so important. The resources at the end that we need to reach those last voters that can be the deciding vote in a key race like this.
A closer look at the map of VA-2:
You can help Elaine Luria close strong by making a contribution to Hopium’s Growing Our House Majority Fund or by donating to her campaign directly here. To learn more head to her website where you can also sign up to volunteer.
Here is a terrific new ad from Luria’s campaign:
Friends, enjoy this update from Elaine, and let’s continue to do what we can to help bring her back to the halls of Congress in January. Share our conversation with others, hit “like” to more will meet Luria, consider throwing a contribution her way, and keep working hard everyone. We have a country to save, and elections like this one in VA-2 to win, together! - Simon
At 17 years old, Elaine joined the Navy and spent the next 20 years serving on combatant ships around the world as a nuclear-trained Surface Warfare Officer. She deployed six times, leading sailors and conducting operations in the Middle East and Western Pacific on destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers.
Elaine retired from the Navy at the rank of Commander in 2017 after commanding a combat-ready unit of 400 sailors to provide assault craft to support the U.S. Marine Corps. She immediately began giving back to the community her family calls home, starting a small business from a block of clay on her kitchen table. Elaine grew the Mermaid Factory into a thriving family business in Hampton Roads that created jobs, supported charity, stimulated the local economy, and brought joy to others.
Inspired by the same sense and calling to serve when she was 17, Elaine used her experience in the military and as a small business owner to run for Congress in 2018 and continue serving the public.
Elaine served as the representative for Virginia’s Second Congressional District from 2018 to 2023 where she put the needs of Hampton Roads first and developed a reputation of working across the aisle to deliver for the district.
In Congress, she fought to pass the PACT Act–the largest expansion of veterans’ health care in our lifetime, cut health care and prescription drug costs, secured direct investments in our communities, and passed legislation to provide three cost-of-living increases for our veterans. As a Navy veteran and representing a district with deep military ties, Elaine secured historic investments in shipbuilding and ensured our men and women in uniform had the tools and resources needed to protect our freedoms abroad and themselves.
Elaine has a proven record of being a strong advocate for Hampton Roads and delivering on the issues that matter most to our communities. She knows that service to our country means putting the interests of the people above all else. That’s why she cannot sit back and watch from the sidelines as our leaders in Washington continue to put themselves first and support policies that are raising costs on families from the grocery store to the pharmacy counter.
Coastal Virginia deserves better. Elaine knows we can’t expect families to get ahead when they can barely afford to get by. When she gets to Congress, Elaine will always put Hampton Roads first and work to lower prices, make health care more affordable, create opportunities, and improve the lives of our veterans and military families.
